I know large parts of America are troubled by drought, but over here in England we're having the opposite trouble - flooding. Where I am the ground is so saturated every time it rains there is flash flooding. (And this is non-floodplain land)We've had the wettest summer, autumn and winter (thus far) in living memory.

The wheat harvest was badly affected by the wet weather. As were vegetable crops. The wet autumn also hit planting of spring crops. God help any farmers with crops planted in the current weather.

Are we witnessing lasting changes in weather patterns? If we are, this could be a real 'game changer' for the Western world.

I know large parts of America are troubled by drought, but over here in England we're having the opposite trouble - flooding. Where I am the ground is so saturated every time it rains there is flash flooding. (And this is non-floodplain land)We've had the wettest summer, autumn and winter (thus far) in living memory.

The wheat harvest was badly affected by the wet weather. As were vegetable crops. The wet autumn also hit planting of spring crops. God help any farmers with crops planted in the current weather.

Are we witnessing lasting changes in weather patterns? If we are, this could be a real 'game changer' for the Western world.

That is one of the concerns over climate change, that the pattern will change enough that crops are impacted and production is lowered.

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expect land values to change and food prices to increase... at least for the foods people are used to. Pikas are a canary in the mine shaft (when the canaries died, the miners knew they had to get out fast). As the weather warmed, the pikas moved higher up the mountains... until there was no more mountain to go up... they die of heat exhaustion due to their thick fur. I am not sure what grows in flooded areas... check what they grow in the monsoons in south Asia. note that where I live, high fuel prices are what is killing the agriculture industry... so it is not just the weather that is going to make life difficult food-wise.

That is one of the concerns over climate change, that the pattern will change enough that crops are impacted and production is lowered.

I actually think that there is little doubt that weather patterns have already changed.In southern Australia, high pressure systems now pass to the south of the continent during summer, whereas some 30 years ago the high pressure systems tracked along the southern coastline. The difference in tracks is in the order of a 150 miles or more further south. In winter the highs are now closer to the southern wheat belts which in turn reduces the likelihood of rain bearing cold fronts providing adequate rainfall for the crops. I understand that the situation is similar in the northern hemisphere.http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/09/050922015634.htm

Quote:

Previous research has shown that over the past thirty years air pressure trends have contributed about 1°C to warming over the UK in winter and up to 3°C in Siberia, as well as 60% of the rainfall increase seen in Scotland.

on a related issue I notice that over the last few months there has been a succession of weather related disasters.here is quick list off the top of my headThe Sandy hurricaneThe Philippines typhoonThe Samoan / Fiji cycloneFloods in the UKTornadoes and heavy snowfall in the USA over the last few days For a more detailed list try here and change the month as requiredhttp://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/hazards/2012/11

Great posts, Ann and warmair, thank you. A lot more people are getting it on AGW from events this year, but I still wonder if they will implement enough emissions reduction in time to prevent thermageddon a long ways down the road, but only stoppable within a short period now.

_________________"With every decision, think seven generations ahead of the consequences of your actions" Ute rule of life.“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children”― Chief Seattle“Those Who Have the Privilege to Know Have the Duty to Act”…Albert Einstein